Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-22

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

 

The diagram below shows how a biofuel called ethanol is produced.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 5.0)

This is the image of biofuel production in which the process of making ethanol is shown. The Energy is made up of sunlight and carbon dioxide which is absorbed by the plants. The energy is harvested by cutting the pants and trees. The harvested trees and plants are pre-processed and cellulose is obtained which after processing produces sugars. Microbes are added in the sugars to produce ethanol. This produced ethanol is used by vehicles like cars, trucks, aeroplane, etc. which produces carbon dioxide by its consumption. This carbon dioxide this is released in the atmosphere which is then absorbed by the trees and plants. Thus, the cycles repeats. By this process the energy is being used by the plants and helps in the production of the ethanol which is used as fuel for the vehicle engines and thus, the carbon dioxide is released in the atmosphere which is again absorbed by the plants and trees.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response provides a basic overview of the process, but it fails to meet the requirements for a high-scoring Task 1 response. While it identifies the main stages, it lacks a clear, structured summary of the process flow. The description is somewhat repetitive and fails to highlight the key features or the cyclical nature of the process in a professional, analytical tone. The response reads more like a narrative description of the diagram rather than a formal report. To improve, you should group the stages logically (e.g., cultivation, processing, and usage) and ensure the overview clearly captures the essence of the entire cycle.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is written as a single paragraph, which is not ideal for a report. While there is a logical sequence following the diagram, the lack of paragraphing makes the text feel dense. The use of cohesive devices is quite limited and repetitive, with phrases like 'The energy is...' and 'This produced ethanol...' appearing frequently. The transition between sentences is mechanical rather than fluid. To improve, use a clear introduction, a body paragraph for the production stages, and a concluding paragraph for the usage/cycle, while incorporating a wider variety of linking words such as 'subsequently,' 'following this,' and 'consequently.'

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is functional but basic and repetitive. You rely heavily on simple verbs like 'made,' 'produced,' and 'used.' There is little attempt to use more precise, academic terminology related to industrial processes or chemical cycles. For example, instead of saying 'energy is made up of sunlight,' you could use 'photosynthesis' or 'solar energy conversion.' Additionally, there are some awkward phrasings, such as 'the cycles repeats' (grammatical error) and 'the energy is harvested by cutting the pants' (likely a typo for 'plants'). Expanding your range of vocabulary to include more specific process-related terms would significantly improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but accuracy is inconsistent. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'the cycles repeats' (subject-verb agreement), 'aeroplane' (should be plural to match 'cars, trucks'), and 'This carbon dioxide this is released' (redundant 'this'). The sentence structure is often repetitive, relying on 'The [noun] is [verb]' patterns. To reach a higher band, you should aim for more varied sentence structures, such as using passive voice more effectively and incorporating complex sentences with relative clauses or subordinating conjunctions, while ensuring subject-verb agreement and correct article usage.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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